There has been a lot in the news, the holidays are almost upon us, and the days are getting longer (slowly). Is it too soon to speak of 2024 and to make predictions? The floor is open for your opinions, views, and prognostications if you wish to make them.
When we Can’t Afford to Pay More Taxes…
Discussion Points?
** “I fear the man who drinks water and so remembers what the rest of us said last night.” – Benjamin Franklin
** Should you put mustard on a chili-cheese hot dog?
** Fat Leonard is returning to face the music – maybe. Venezuela is trading him (He’s hiding there as a fugitive) in exchange for Venezuelan prisoners and stuff.
** The Problem with Utopia – is that it’s boring.
** My daughter, Emilie, is wearing a new sweater as she goes to work in the temple of greed, selling (future) landfill to men who arrive wide-eyed and panicked in search of a last-minute gift for the woman in their lives. Because she isn’t working in the $25.00 hr + food service industry, she doesn’t ask for a tip to pair you with the perfect gift that will maintain harmony in your home. She’s driving the new car that I bought her this year. Is that a face that can con a father into forking over hard-earned Krugerrands? I have four daughters; each is pretty, and none of them consider themselves to be more spoiled than the others. Since they’ve all given me grandchildren, they seem to have extra leverage.
** One of the weirder things about becoming an adult is that you develop a preference for one of your stovetop burners, but nobody talks about it.
** Health plans are notorious for retaliation against employees and patients who go against the grain. This nurse managed to come out OK.
** NY, NY is mulling over a plan to legalize prostitution and tax it in a move to prop up falling revenues. Maybe that can be used to forestall the coming Ice Age?
** A reminder of mass immigration and world poverty. Three billion people earn less than US$2 per day, etc. Back to gumballs.
** Not surprising:
An Unscientific Poll
Do you prefer hot melted cheese on your burger or cold cheese? Or do you do without cheese altogether (barbarian style)?
Another picture of LL & grandsons
Their favorite thing to do when visiting the White Wolf Mine is shooting targets from the back deck. They can go through a box of 500 .22LR very quickly and have learned the trick of reloading while the other shoots. They share a Ruger 10-22 (breakdown/pack) rifle. One day, when they each have their own rifle, they’ll each carry (and expend) 20 magazines.
Cartoon of the Day
Identify the Aircraft
1
Four forward-firing machine guns
2
3
This is one of the trickier entries in VM ID the aircraft history IMHO. A Flying __________.
4
5
There are F-105 design features in this aircraft, but it’s obviously not an F-105.
Identify the Aircraft:
1. Sopwith Dolphin
2. Westland Wyvern TF.1
3. Mitsubishi G4M Betty. The Flying Lighter.
4. IMAM Ro.58
5. Republic XF-91 Thunderceptor. The name is on the nose.
Revisit #3
Look at the Ki-67 Hiryu (Flying Dragon)
The ‘Flying’ got into my mind and I thought of the Allied nickname for the Betty. I forgot that the Japanese predilection for fanciful names could also include flying.
Mustard on a chili-cheese? It’s an option
Melted cheese is my preference but it really doesn’t matter.
I stopped at Burger King the other day (couldn’t tell you if the cheese was melted or not), but I like the option of onion rings rather than french fries!
They also have half-and-half (Frings)
I prefer mustard and onions on the chili-cheese dog, and melting the cheese into the burger. Heat makes flavour more available, and we were made to enjoy food, despite the constant attempts of meal-in-a-bar/shake companies to convince us otherwise.
Not everyone prefers the meal that way, and that’s okay. De gustibus non disputandum est.
I guess people without shoulder or back injuries would think developing a preference for a particular burner or rack height in the oven was strange. I’ll pay attention to their opinion right after I get to the people who think cast iron is outmoded and too heavy for regular cooking. That one’s scheduled for the fifth of Never.
I don’t have back or shoulder injuries and still have a favorite burner of the six available on the cooktop. I seldom use the built-in griddle. It’s been pointed out to me. Who doesn’t use cast iron? Skillets, Dutch ovens, etc. I like to make cornbread in its own tiny cast iron skillet (individual skillets). Does that mean that there is something old-fashioned in my approach? I’d accept the indictment.
I wouldn’t call that old-fashioned at all. Skilled is a more appropriate description. It’s been my experience that people who dislike cast iron probably don’t know how to cook.
We don’t live far from the Lodge cast iron factory & store. Wife could spend all day there.
I agree with Dorothy on the Chili Cheese dog. That makes it a Coney with cheese, eh?
Which then leads into your question of cheese on a burger.
I prefer swiss melted on my burger if at all. Depends on the quality/flavor of the beef.
My wife keeps me away from her stove.
I’m a big Swiss cheese lover and I thought that there may be something genetic in that because half of my family is from there. (The other half is literally descended from pirates, which is why I occasionally eat a burger without cheese.
DNA
The Angel Dudley in the original The Bishop’s Wife speaks a blessing over Sylvester the cab driver:
“Sylvester is a noble soul. His children and his children’s children will rise up and call him blessed.”
I wonder why that came to mind….
Goodness for this time of year. Great movie (we like both versions…but original is always tough to beat)
My favorite burner was Susie. Oh, you mean actually on the stove? Sorry, no favorites there. I’m stuck with electric and prefer gas.
Cheese on a burger. Of course, and I’m with Ed. Swiss is the way to go. Hold the mustard on the the chili dog. Onions, on the other hand are essential.
I lived and worked on and along the Mexican border in Arizona from New Mexico to California for 15 years as a lineman and construction manager(Sierra Vista, Tucson, Nogales, Yuma). Ran into illegals many times in the bush. We would be compassionate with water or food. No rides.
Maybe with the current administration in place we patriots can go back and patrol known crossing points with AR’s and let the lawbreakers know that they are no longer welcome. Of course with Garland in charge we would end up like the J6ers. Just a thought that’s been plaguing me for the last three years.
A slice of cold American (at least I know it’s cheese(?), not some cr* that comes out of a cheezy bottle) on top of which a slice from the center of a good Walla Walla on top of which I prefer a sunny-side-up cooked to just short of medium.
Now some people prefer a slice of a good smoked ham between the onion and the egg: I’ve had it both ways and will not get into this discussion other than to take the obligatory bite(s), several if necessary.
Melted cheese on the burger (but not disintegrated melted).
No mustard on a chili dog (more is sometimes, just more, and often detracts, but to each his/her own).
Holtz- Coaches, certainly football (thinking of Joe Paterno before the woke idiots decided he needed to go under the auspices of a total lie…I know) built character into their players as an integral part of playing the sport. Not anymore (Thomas in a chicks bathing suit being one of the most glaring examples, the dudes mental and needs a strong male hand…behind the woodshed for about five minutes).
Proud Grandpa picture…love it. The important things in life.
Now it’s time to go pickup the new water pump for the plow truck and get it installed before the snow flies again. Some fun.
Holtz is a Christian gentleman.
x2
How many of you remember the first year Lou Holtz coached Arkansas? This was the 1977 season, and the Hogs were not well ranked going into it, yet Holtz took them to a winning season against some tough opponents and then to the Cotton Bowl against Oklahoma. Nobody thought a Hog win was possible given the Oklahoma team’s proficiency and the fact that the Hogs lost a key player to injury before the game. Then Holtz tossed out three other key players right before the game for rules violations. I was living in Northwest Arkansas at the time and people were calling for his head. The hue and cry was for the violators to be reinstated, but Holtz said no and somehow made it stick.
Thus it was that nobody thought a win possible except Holtz and his team, and Arkansas ended up trouncing the Sooners 31-6, even though another key player was lost to injury during the game. Nobody wanted his head on a platter then, except the Sooners…..
Orange Bowl. Not enough covfefe yet!
There’s nothing weird about burner preference. The rear ones since you can still use the front of the range top for prep or what have you. (Needless to say, I’m stuck with one of those glass-top electric ranges.) Right or left depending on the size of the pot used, since the “burner” sizes differ. I realize this makes me sound like Sheldon Cooper explaining, well, anything, but so be it.
Legalizing prostitution in NY. Well, why the heck not? But the question is whether the prostitutes (or their “handlers”) will report income. I’m betting not, in the vast majority. Speaking of which, earlier this week I was in Flushing, NY for the first time in decades. Judging by storefronts downtown, the economy is 1/3 Asian restaurants, 1/3 random businesses, and 1/3 prostitution (so many “spas” with suspiciously blacked out windows; maybe I’m overly suspicious and Flushing is just collectively uncommonly well-coifed, manicured, and moisturized, but I kinda doubt it). Anyway, being that Flushing is full of Chinese, I’ll bet all sorts of underground economy is going on.
Also, professional question regarding Chinese trafficking (by which I mean illegal entry, not sex slavery). I heard about flying from China to “the Bahamas” and thence being smuggled into CONUS via boat. Is this a prevalent thing?
Probably costs more than the cargo container to Long Beach route, but worth it. I presume the Triads will provide whatever you can afford / bargain for. It’s not like anyone in power in the US even admits it exists, much less tried to mitigate it. Just business.
– Kle.
5 wolves recently introduced in Colorado are wearing collars with a GPS tracking device. Inquiring minds wonder if the signals are encrypted? Can anyone with proper equipment locate them?
Hot dogs and burgers.
I’m open to almost any additions but prefer mine on sourdough bread instead of a bun.
The Wolf Introducers are insane, but we knew that already….besides we know wolves are already here (have seen one on our place). Let’s not forget these do-gooders in a bubble introduced Canadian grey wolves, larger and more likely to hunt for sport (up near Shoshoni, Wy, ranchers have been dealing with this for years.) This will not end well.
The GPS trackers are just receivers/recorders, and store the data of where the wolf has been, to be read out at a later time. I don’t know if they have two-way capability, but I doubt it.
Some “Tracking Collars” have small radio transmitters in them, but I’ve never looked into how they work.
Nah, it’s the Green Mambas who are racists, because of mamba cultural appropriation. Everyone knows Green is just a dog-whistle for White. Or Communist – same thing.
Melted cheese on a burger. Although I wouldn’t turn up my nose at the other way.
Mustard chili dog is good, but not required.
Politicians are already legal; why not the rest of the whores? Probably get a better deal than from the former. Besides, Rule of Law is over. Why not just make it official?
– Kle.
I’m sitting at a booth in a Greek Coney Island right now and the menu has a picture of a Coney dog with onions and mustard.
I prefer the traditional Chicago-style hot dog, which includes onions, mustard, tomatoes, peppers, celery salt and a pickle. Portillos does a great Chicago dog.
That sounds good.
Oh, thick melted cheese and my preference is extra sharp cheddar or a super extra sharp Wisconsin cheddar on mine please? Mustard is an option, but if I see you put ketchup/mayo on it too, you are walking home, I don’t care if it is your truck. An abomination!
I was a nurse for over thirty years and times have certainly changed about nurses being taught they are the patient’s advocate. Once ya let the bean counters, worthless MBAs running a hospital, a clinic and have never changed a diaper ruining healthcare you get what that nurse experienced. I have been on the mat with hospital admin on numerous times and I was not bashful or intimidated by them. Of course I knew where somebodies were buried. My favorite motto was, “We are here for healing, not exuberate profits.” Healthcare was never supposed to be a profit center or an industry as it now is. Welcome to socialized medicine, take your number please, oh, #1,475,890 number, calling #4, your gurney is waiting!
A friend of mine husband was admitted to a local hospital during COVID. They refused to give him ivermectin until one of the nurses found them a doctor would prescribe it. The nurses were on her side. The administration ultimately killed her husband by denying him the ivermectin after it had successful results.
Ed,
My GP to me: “Considering the state of your health, I’d like to prescribe Ivermectin prophylactically. I’d also like to continue to practice medicine in this state.
https://allfamilypharma.com/covid-19-form/?wpf2118_59=THE_BLAZE_AM&wpf2118_101=10006&wpf2118_100=DEDICATED_EMAIL
Always spicy brown deli mustard on a chili-cheese dog or regular hotdog. Ketchup is a sin against nature.
I like to put shredded sharp cheddar on my burgers.
Utopias, as envisioned by humans, would be boring. Doubt heaven will have that problem.
On another note – how many enjoyed listening to The Mummers’ Dance?
If having a barbarian hamburger, ketchup and mayo, no mustard.
If having a cheeseburger, American cheese, slightly melted, with mustard or ketchup and mayo.
Mustard goes on a chili dog. Mustard also goes on chili, if the chili is old and boring.
As to football coaches being good humans, can’t go wrong with Bobby Bowden. Sadly the era of long-term coaches is over, as alumni toss coaches quicker than ‘star athletes.’
I have my grandmother on my moms side’s 10” cast iron skillet. It has fried so many chickens in crisco over the years, you can taste it. Thick slab of sharp cheddar on everything where I came from. “Drink lots of milk boys, it’s the only thing we have plenty of!” My dad the dairy farmer.
My, what a tasty looking burger!
And yes, your daughter’s and Krugerrands? No contest, obvs.
Interesting stovetop point — mine’s bottom right. A parable? Perhaps.
*daughters
Cheddar melted, no mustard on a chili dog…sigh… And yes, grands/kids CAN go through a LOT of .22 whether it’s a 10/22 or a 22/45.
Burner. Yeah, I use the same one each morning, the small one, front and left. 1) it’s in front 2) it fits the pan. The older I get, the more I like the KISS principle.
I like plain mustard with ketchup and relish on my hot dogs, Hickory Farms sweet hot mustard with ham. Burgers–pop the cheese slice on the burger right off the grill. Add grilled onions, mayo, and BBQ sauce, all on a toasted bun. Side of thinly battered onion rings to dip in Ranch dressing.
Grandson. His mother (our daughter) drove him and my wife and I to see Christmas lights last night. We babysit him a few days a week. He lights off whenever he sees Mamma and Pop-Pop. From his car seat in the back, he pointed to the empty seat next to him and told me to “Sit right there”. My resolve is further steeled to stick around so I can teach him things. He turns 3 in February.
I found a doctor in Atlanta, Ga. who prescribed an antibiotic, a steroid, Ivermectin, and Hydroxychloroquine. Went home, took one of each, sat down and in three hours by the clock was feeling normal. that was after 5 days of Covid(tested). Lying government bastards. La verdad entera.
Franklin is one of my heroes. Quite a guy!
I use mustard quite a bit, but not on a chili-cheese dog. Just doesn’t seem to fit to me.
Don’t think I have a burner preference, but it’s an interesting thought.
I usually put the cheese on the hot burger and let nature take her course.
Grandsons are great. You get to teach them all kinds of Cool Stuff!
About thirty years ago I knew an older gentleman that had migrated west from the east coast as a teenager looking for work during The Great Depression.
He told me that when he hit Washington State on the west coast that a hamburger with lettuce and tomato was called a California burger. In the rest of America if you ordered a hamburger you got just a meat patty in the bun.